India praises SAARC role as bloc enters 25th year

While all eyes are on a possible meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the 16th SAARC summit, the foreign secretaries of the eight-member regional grouping began their meeting in Thimpu on Sunday to consider the fineprint of two draft agre

While all eyes are on a possible meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the 16th SAARC summit, the foreign secretaries of the eight-member regional grouping began their meeting in Thimpu on Sunday to consider the fineprint of two draft agreements on trade and environment expected to be signed at the summit on April 28-29.

Being held for the first time in Bhutan, the summit's central theme is relevant - climate change.

The foreign secretaries of the eight countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - will also consider the text of the summit declaration. The officials may also suggest amendments to the drafts made by the SAARC programming committee that met in Bhutan's capital on Saturday, according to sources.

In her opening remarks at Sunday's SAARC standing committee meeting, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said, "In this 25th year of SAARC, we can take satisfaction from the fact that SAARC has evolved into a service provider for the economic and development needs of the people of the region."

Claiming that the regional grouping has achieved significant success, Rao said, "valuable progress has been achieved in developing a regional framework of cooperation in areas such as environment, energy, agriculture and rural development, food security, health, trade and transportation."

SAARC has also facilitated slow but sure steps towards greater cooperation in the security sector and in the prevention of trafficking of women and child development.

The thrust of most of these regional projects and activities is at the grassroots levels where the results are less visible but far more significant and rewarding? Our leaders have correctly identified the focus of SAARC as being development oriented." Following this meeting, foreign ministers of the eight countries will meet on Tuesday to give final shape to the agreements and summit declaration.

The ministerial resolution will be sent to heads of state on April 28 and 29 for final approval and adoption, sources said.

Bhutan has proposed a summit declaration entitled " Towards a Green and Happy South Asia" and a separate ministerial declaration on climate change. The summit is also expected to discuss the pertinent issue of crossborder terrorism in South Asia.

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